Exercising apparatus



July 21, 1936. G. AVERILL EXERCISING APPARATUS Filed July 5, 1955 INVENTOR Geor genejlverbll ATTORN EY5 Patented July 21, 1936 UNlTE STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to exercising apparatus, an object of the invention being to provide an apparatus of this character which enables the user while resting in a reclining position to use his or her feet in engagement with an object which is preferably revolved by the action of the feet thereagainst.

A further object is to provide an apparatus of this character which can be folded or collapsed when not in use so that it can be conveniently carried from place to place or stored and take up a reasonably small amount of room.

A further object is to provide an apparatus of this character which is capable of a wide range of adjustment not only to accommodate operators of different sizes, but also to vary the exercise or exertion necessary to manipulate or move the object.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, all of which will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawing- Figure 1 is a view in side elevation illustratin my improved apparatus in operative position;

Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an edge view of the apparatus in folded or collapsed form;

Figure 4 is an enlarged detailed view in section on the line 4, l of Figure 1.

I represents a body supporting platform which may be made of any suitable material and which is preferably provided on its under face with a supporting block 2 which supports the platform at a slight angle. On this platform I a body rest or cushion 3 is provided which is capable of adjustment longitudinally of the platform and a simple form of adjusting means is illustrated which includes loops l on the ends of the cushion 3 which engage over pins 5' at the edges of the platform. A pair of uprights 5-5 are pivotally connected at their lower ends to the block as shown at 8 and at their upper ends support a shaft 1 on which a ball or other suitable object 8 is mounted and preferably mounted to revolve. It is desirable that this shaft 1 with the ball 8 may be adjusted vertically relative to the support to suit persons of different sizes, and I have illustrated a simple means of effecting this adjustment which consists in providing slots 9 in the uprights 5 having bearing blocks I6 movable therein and supporting the shaft I, and these bearing blocks may be secured in place by set screws I! as clearly shown, but, of course, the invention is not limited to the specific means permitting the adjustment as this may be varied in a great many different ways. The uprights 5-5 are held in normal position by means of braces it. These braces I0 are pivotally connected to the sides of the platform I as shown at II and are 'adjustably connected with the uprights 5. A simple form of adjusting means is to provide pins I2 on the uprights which may be engaged in any of'a series of notches I3 in the braces, and as it is desirable to prevent any possibility of accidental disconnection of the braces with the uprights I illustrate a simple form of securing means which consists in the provision of sliding bolts I4 on the uprights which are projected over the braces, when they are in engagement with the pins I2 so that they can not be accidentally lifted off the pins, but 15 when it is desired to disconnect them it is simply necessary to slide the bolts rearwardly when they can be separated, and the uprights and braces may be folded down beside the platform I as clearly shown in Figure 3 of the draw- 20 ing. I have shown a finger receiving opening I4 in one end of the platform which facilitates the carrying of the device from place to place and which also may be used to receive a nail or hanger to support the apparatus in upright position.

Figure 1 illustrates my improved apparatus in operation. The operator reclines upon the platform I resting the lower portion of the back on the cushion 3 and manipulating the ball 8 by engagement of the feet therewith. This exercises the muscles of the feet, legs, and body, and is beneficial as a reducing means as well as a strengthening means.

While I have illustrated and described what I believe to be a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is obvious that various changes might be made in the general form and arrangement of parts without departing from my invention, and hence I do not limit myself to the precise details set forth but consider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

An exercising device comprising a platform, up-

rights pivotally connected to the platform, a

shaft carried by the uprights, a rotary ball on the shaft and means connecting the uprights and the platform and holding the uprights at various angular adjustments relative to the platform, said parts so arranged that when a body is supported on the platform they offer an unobstructed space for the manipulation of the legs of the user under the ball to permit engagement of the ball by the bottoms of the feet to turn the ball.

GEORGENE AVERILL. 

